Automation Articles for Manufacturers and Engineers

The OnRobot 2FGP20 Fork was designed to handle packaging that cannot be lifted with vacuum or side gripping.

OnRobot Launches 2FGP20 Fork

Ready-to-Deploy Electric Gripper for Challenging Palletizing Applications

OnRobot has announced the launch of the 2FGP20 Fork, a standardized, all-electric fork palletizing gripper designed specifically for open boxes, display boxes, and other low-rigidity boxes. The tool handles box payloads up to 16 kg (35.2 lbs) across major industrial and collaborative robot brands, allowing customers to replace costly custom engineering with a plug-and-play solution.

INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION

Mitsubishi Electric US showcased its integrated ecosystem of CNCs, robotics, PLCs, and digital solutions at IMTS 2026 in Chicago.

Mitsubishi Electric Demonstrated Integrated Automation at IMTS 2026

Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc., Industrial Automation Division showcased the technologies, expertise, and support that help machine builders and manufacturers achieve better performance, greater flexibility, and faster automation adoption at IMTS 2026, which took place September 14-19 in Chicago. Visitors explored live demonstrations, integrated automation solutions, and hands-on learning experiences across both the company's main exhibit and Student Summit presence.

In addition to the MyCo collaborative robot and intelligent gripper, engineered to manipulate objects varying in shape, weight, and material, the solution incorporates advanced sensors, vision-based object recognition, digital twin capabilities, and workflow orchestration tools.

Comau and Partners Deploy AI-Driven Cobot Logistics

Comau has designed and validated an order preparation solution tested within Decathlon’s e-commerce fulfillment operations as part of Masterly, a European initiative designed to accelerate the transition from traditional mass production to highly flexible, customized manufacturing systems. The system leverages Comau’s MyCo collaborative robot with a ROS2-based software architecture and integrates intelligent sensors and an advanced modular gripper to autonomously manage picking, handling, and palletizing tasks across variable product flows.

ROBOTICS

Bosch Rexroth will showcase how the data-driven capabilities of its VarioFlow plus and VarioFlow belt conveyors manage product flow and meet CPG throughput goals.

Bosch Rexroth to Demonstrate Adaptable Factory Solutions at PACK EXPO 2026

Few industries face the kind of complex, constantly shifting trends and customer preferences that consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers deal with daily, and Bosch Rexroth will showcase a diverse display of drives, conveyors, palletizing and automation technology used in thousands of CPG operations across the globe.

At IMTS 2026, Vention displayed both physical AI and agentic AI in action.

Teaching Robots to Work in Plain English

Industrial automation has long demanded specialized expertise. Designing a robotic cell, programming its movements and validating that everything works together can require knowledge of robotics, controls and programming languages. Vention is betting that it doesn't have to be that way.

MOTION CONTROL

NORD offers reliable, high efficiency drive solutions that are highly configurable to specific packaging application requirements

NORD to Exhibit Packaging Drive Solutions at PACK EXPO 2026

NORD DRIVESYSTEMS will exhibit at Pack Expo 2026, highlighting their food- and washdown-compliant drives, highly configurable gear unit options, high-efficiency electric motors, variable frequency drives and plug-and-play control systems. matched to specific application requirements. Their complete solutions for the packaging industry will be on display in Booth N-4924 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL.

CBS ArcSafe RRS-3 VY Toshiba remote racking unit, designed for safe distance operation of low- and medium-voltage rotary racking circuit breakers.

CBS ArcSafe Expands Worker Protection with New Remote Racking Unit

CBS ArcSafe, a manufacturer of remote racking and switching solutions for low- and medium-voltage switchgear, introduces the RRS-3 VY Toshiba. The remote racking system lets technicians operate Toshiba VY-30M25A circuit breakers (rotary racking only) from up to 300 feet away, putting them safely outside the arc flash boundary.

AI

Streamlining workflows: Eplan Copilot brings AI-powered search, quality checks, and technical support directly into the platform.

Eplan Platform 2027 Adds Smart AI Helper

The Eplan Platform 2027, first introduced back at the Eplan Next26 in May, is now live. Users of the engineering software benefit from faster results along the process steps of preplanning, electrical engineering and control cabinet design. Another added advantage is the integration of Eplan Copilot into the software. This new AI assistant is now anchored in the platform with Version 2027 and provides valuable support in day-to-day project work. In addition, the Eplan Platform is now even easier to integrate into existing IT environments.

Highlighting real-world deployments across 25,000+ assets, Azilen shows manufacturers how to bridge the gap between machine connectivity and automated intelligence.

Using AI and IoT Engineering to Drive High-Performance Manufacturing

Azilen Technologies is expanding its Industrial AI and IoT Engineering offering by bringing together sensorization, Industrial IoT, edge computing, and AI engineering to turn factory-floor signals into real-time operational intelligence. At IMTS 2026, the company demonstrated how machine data can move from real-time visibility to predictive insights and smarter production decisions.